Thursday, February 26, 2009

I'm going to post this subject a couple of days early. This is my "Summer 2008 Inspiration muse idea." It's a little untimely as far as the early seeding subject, but it's never too late for Next Year's Plans! :-)

The subject for this month is early seeding and looking ahead at upcoming landscaping plans.

Early Seeding

I've enjoyed SO many helpful and informative posts by other garden bloggers with regard to Winter seed sowing, plant propagation and starting seeds indoors. I've never before done any early seeding and feel like a real Greenhorn! (Better than a bluehorn or a purplehorn?) ha.

At any rate, Kylee at Our Little Acre has shared her Winter seed sowing techniques annually. The first time I spotted her illustrated instructions was during the 2007/08 winter. I was so pleased that she posted again This Winter! :-) This link takes you to this year's post, which links to others.

(This is the little revision of which I spoke in the title)I hope this works, I hope this works, I hope this works!Experiment a la Kylee!

Patsi, at Garden Endeavors, recently posted Very Helpful illustrated instructions on indoor seed starting... I've not gotten to this yet, but anticipate trying very shortly (or at least, next year!) :-)

***I know I've missed a lot of great gardeners and their informative posts...please add additional links in your comments!!***

Landscaping Plans

Now, as far as landscaping plans... I Really want to work on a little fence for the raised bed gardens. I am definitely looking forward to beginning 4' (or so) sections (soon!) that can be put in place once the posts are set after the ground thaws! Hopefully you'll get the idea before long. :-)

The stone walkway I started last fall needs to be finished. This means I need to forage for more rocks and purchase a few as well. Both ends of this little walkway are unfinished. And I need to fill between the stones with a lot more (sand?) between the stones. Any suggestions?

Of course, I need to continue working in the Woodland Walk; readjusting the stone path, adding a little more dirt, compost, a few more items, etc.

Starting from the west and walking east, towards the backyard, these photos were taken at 7:00 p.m. May 29, 2008. Click on all the photos below. Some enlarge more than others.

Do you see the ligularia in the bottom left corner? (The Rocket)

Now we've reached the east end and looking back westerly over the path we've just walked.

Here's a broader picture, looking west. This is another photo taken at 7:00 p.m. May 29, 2008.

Here's a photo taken at 7:00 a.m. on July 15, 2008.You can see the bench is now in place!

The plant in the foreground is 'Lightning Strikes' tricyrtis.The white and green hosta is 'Night Before Christmas.'Heartleaf Brunerra right beside the bench and Ostrich ferns behind it.

One more project would be to create something out two small beds in the front yard. The following pictures were taken May 22, 2008. The "clump Shagbark Hickory" (allowed to grow this way, but why??) was removed in August 2008.

I want to plant a (Crimson King Maple?) tree a little further to the right and a tiny bit closer to the bushes back there. The woodland out here is chiefly a variety of oaks and a few shagbark hickories, so something a little different might be nice.

These two beds aren't as far away from each other as they look. I can visualize several interesting plants here, as well as a smallish water feature of some type. Not a pond, but some recirculating water. Any suggestions?

Have a great day! As you can see, the month of April really gets us into Spring! Yea!Nothing "shady" here! ;-)

Monday, February 23, 2009

This amaryllis is my second to begin growing. This is because I could wait no longer for these ladies to begin growing on their own. I brought this amaryllis bulb upstairs and began watering her. Two days later, she'd begun to sprout. Greatly encouraged, I brought the rest of the ladies upstairs and watered them!

This is amaryllis bulb "Number One." I took this picture yesterday.

And this photo was taken today.:-)

What a difference a day makes!

Wait a minute!You might want to scroll back up to see those first two photos again...the ones with the ladies in waiting...

Now look closely at the photo below...do you see a little something unusual?Hold still...And let me catch my breath!;-)

What's this????

Have a great day!!!(p.s. Do you think I should let that little "side-winder" grow, or remove the dirt and put him in another pot?)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

The first of my 10 amarylis has decided to venture out of its sleepiness!I will continue to breathe on the others!:-)

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Also center-stage, is my second-time-blooming Christmas cactus.The first time it bloomed (heavily!) was December 2008.You can click to make either of these photos larger!To participate in Green Thumb Sunday, click on the link at the top of this post.You'll visit As the Garden Grows.Click on the tab at the top entitled "Join GTS Meme"

Saturday, February 7, 2009

I'm just posting about Sedum. The common name is Stonecrop. Unfortunately I'm missing the names of a couple of the varieties. (I sure could use your help!)

The Crawlers:

Unless designated otherwise, these "crawlers" are right in front of the house, in my little rock garden type area.

The tag on this said 'Worm Grass.'

I've found it listed as Sedum Album. It is very small and has white flowers.

"Worm Grass" in bloom, next to a Moss Rose.

Sedum reflexum 'Blue Spruce'Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood' on the leftSedum Spurium 'John Creech'I believe 'Dragon's Blood' is in the background. This is NOT Worm Grass in the foreground.This is much smaller than Worm Grass.Can you help me with this, too??(I think it has a tiny yellow flower.) The sedum below could have some height, if it stood up.As it is, it just lies around, looking beautiful.(It may be 'Bertram Anderson.' I planted B.A. in the front sunny bedlast Spring, but don't have photos of it yet.)This is 'Gold Carpet' Sedum. I planted this last summer in the front of the Sunny Corner Bed.

This is actually not my photo. If you click on this photo, it will take you to a site with a description of the plant. I purchased my plant locally. I hope it does well! :-)

This is the "Sunny Corner."In the foreground, at left, is "Matrona." I'm very fond of this plant!Mid-bed is a shorter plant called "Chablis."In the back, to the left, is "Autumn Joy" and to the right is "Purple Emperor."This is 'Matrona' close-up.

'Purple Emperor' stands in front of 'Autumn Joy' (hiding on the right).

This is 'Purple Emperor' up close and personal.

'Chablis' is interesting. In the Spring, half the 'Chablis' stems and leaves are pure white. They turn out to be variegated green and white (on the left). Can you tell there were two different types of blossom heads? This first photo shows them before they're in full bloom.

Interesting comparison, isn't it?Here are the two close-up photos.'Autumn Joy' in the backyard.

Right in front of the house, I have two taller varieties. I purchased the one on the left in Sheffield, IL (on US Highway 34) as I drove home from Michigan 1 1/2 years ago. The name tag must be hiding under the plant. I hope I can find it this Spring.

The second plant (on the right) is called 'Diamond Edge.'

name?Can you help me?'Diamond Edge''Diamond Edge' taken from above. :-)

I really do like sedum! There are too many varieties, though. I think I have enough of them. ;-)